Brilliant film, I don't know why it's not better known. The lead actress was astounding and she brilliantly conveyed the almost hopeless situation her character was in. It's hard to even comprehend what it must feel like to live like that.

A pretty average movie which always hesitate to go somewhere. As an european, I had a hard time feeling the premice and most of the time it didn't make sense to me even if i accepted it. I loved the actress but she looks more mentally ill than anything else, I don't know if that was a point. I'm really wodering why this film even exists.

Definitely one of the more powerful films I've watched in awhile. The acting is incredible; I never considered the actress to be acting at all - it felt like she was real; like this was her life. Stunning cinematography as well. Kobayashi did a superb job telling this overwhelmingly tragic story. The only reason I can't see myself watching it again is because of the strong, lingering emotional impact it had on me

The Japanese social ostracism, pointed out by Mark Schilling in his article, has always been difficult for me to understand as a western, but what makes this film one to remember is the capacity that it has to let you share the feeling of isolation and exclusion of Yuko. Two thumbs up for Fusako Urabe's interpretation.